Biosorption of nitrate from aqueous phase onto tamarind fruit shells

Abstract

The locally available tamarind fruit shell (TFS) prewashed with distilled water was used to remove Nitrate (NO3and#8254;) from aqueous phase. The investigation was done by using continuously mixed batch reactor (CMBR) under room temperature. Few preliminary investigations was undertaken to optimize the system parameters of the NO3and#8254;-TFS system. The batch studies covered the important experiments, such as biosorption kinetics, biosorption equilibrium isotherm, effect of pH, effect of presence of other cations and anions in the system on biosorption of NO3and#8254;. The effects of sorbate concentration, biosorbent size, rate of agitation on the removal rate of NO3and#8254; were studied to conclude the rate limiting step of biosorption. newline